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Welcome back, Dogfish Head Brewing

After a long absence, legendary Dogfish Head Brewing has expanded distribution back into Indiana. Join the Talking Pints team as they welcome back a great brewery that has made its fortune on wildly creative and flavorful craft beer.

Dave: Darrick is traveling the countryside in a never-ending quest for great craft beer. Joining me in a tasting session is Jay, the Talking Pints staff photographer, beer historian and home-brewing engineer.

Jay: I'm also thirsty.

Dave: Jay and I are welcoming a famously creative brewery back to Indiana after an absence of several years.

Jay: In 2011, Dogfish Head Brewery pulled distribution from several markets, Indiana was one of them. Demand for Dogfish's signature creative beers had become so strong, they simply could not keep up production.

Dave: So, Indiana and several other smaller markets had to wait while Dogfish Head kept their larger markets in supply and while the brewery in Milton, Delaware, expanded capacity.

Jay: Happy days arrived in December of 2013. Dogfish Head announce their return to Indiana, specifically the northern part of the state. Now, Dogfish Head can be found in Indy as the distributors fill in the gaps around the state.

Dave: Dogfish Head is one of those breweries that rose to prominence among a sea of great beer makers. Famous for making "off-centered" ales, Dogfish Head has made historic beer from ancient recipes found in archaeological digs, beers that have pushed the limits of what is chemically possible for yeast to do, and shamelessly and successfully ignored convention time and again and produced beers that have a passionate following.

Jay: While Darrick was out, we found two good examples from Dogfish Head, right in Darrick's temperature-controlled beer safe. Brewing engineers can easily unlock beer safes.

Beer: Namaste

Available at: Well stocked package stores

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Del.

Style: White Ale with spices

ABV: 4.8 percent

Dave: Namaste is a golden ale that pours with a stark white foam that dissipates quickly. The carbonation is assertive and brings up a wash of aroma as each tiny CO2 bubble bursts.

Jay: On the nose, I'm picking up lemongrass and a lot of other fresh aromas. It smells like spring.

Dave: There is the lemon, fresh lawn clipping aromas, hay, and a pleasant musty earthiness to the aroma.

Jay: The flavor has bitter orange, like the white pith from the rind, white pepper, and a nice dry finish. There is a whole lot going on in this beer and all of it is good and interesting. Very good choice.

Beer: Sixty-One

Available at: Well stocked package stores

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Del.

Style: IPA/Fruit Beer

ABV: 6.5 percent

Dave: This is an IPA, for which Dogfish is famous, that breaks the rules, for which Dogfish Head is also famous. Added to the famous Sixty Minute IPA is Syrah grape must, best known from the wine making world.

Jay: The beer pours more like a blush wine than an IPA and has a red cast to it. When you smell it, the whine character is very noticeable.

Dave: The nose is very vino-centric. Blackberry jam aroma is up front and bitter hops are just waiting in the wings.

Jay: The flavor is also very wine like, especially as it warms up. It's like a deep, full bodied red with a little carbonation.

Dave: The hop character finally arrives with the wine and plays very well together. The bitter hors and tannins from the grape must are very complimentary. Wine lovers would really appreciate this beer.

Jay: Serve this one with any dish that calls for a red wine and you won't be sorry.

Darrick Ayers and Dave Bilger are local craft beer aficionados and homebrewers. They write Talking Pints to bring the local craft beer scene to you. Contact Darrick and Dave at talkingpints.muncie@gmail.com, like them on Facebook at Talking Pints Muncie for more beer reviews, or follow them on Twitter.